International film school set for Shanghai

Updated: 2014-06-20 11:24

By Wang Hongyi in Shanghai (China Daily USA)

Shanghai University and Canada's Vancouver Film School (VFS) will jointly establish an international film school in Shanghai to cultivate more high-level talent for China's film industry.

The announcement was made at the sidelines of the Shanghai International Film Festival on June 15.

The Shanghai Vancouver Film School will be located at Shanghai University's Yanchang Campus in the Zhabei district. It will offer four majors: film production, 3D animation and visual effects, sound design for visual media and makeup design for film and television. All courses will be from VFS, a prestigious entertainment arts institution in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada,

Founded in 1987, Vancouver Film School has achieved wide recognition.

About two thirds of the faculty in the Shanghai Vancouver Film School will come from North America, and a considerable number of them will be world-famous actors and actresses, including the winners of Oscar and Emmy awards.

"Shanghai Vancouver Film School will feature for the same one-year, hands-on programs as those offered by VFS. The education modes and teaching methods will help train more talents for China's film industry development," said Luo Hongjie, president of Shanghai University.

The school plans to enroll 100 Chinese and international students in autumn this year. By 2022, it will enroll 1,000 students annually.

"The new school is expected to bring new concepts and ideas in film-industry education to China," said Hu Jinjun, head of the Shanghai municipal culture, radio broadcasting, film and television administration.

Shanghai University and the district government also plan to establish an international film and television park in the district to encourage the development of filmmaking, animation, entertainment and digital media. The Sino-Canadian film school will be a base for global film post-production.

The partnership is the city's latest efforts to deepen education reform and promote international education.

Shanghai encourages education practices that integrate international education concepts and Chinese features to further raise the level of education, according to the city's education development plan for 2011 to 2015 period,

Earlier this year, Shanghai Qibao Dwight High School, the country's first Sino-US high school was established by Shanghai Qibao High School and the United States' New York-based Dwight School. One of the highlights of this school is its education model, which integrates internationally recognized courses and Chinese features.

The boarding school plans to enroll 150 students in the fall, with 100 students from Shanghai and 50 from other provinces and overseas.

In 2012, Shanghai New York University was founded. It is China's first China-US university that is an independent legal entity, operated by New York University and Shanghai's East China Normal University.

Its education model and international courses for higher education have drawn attention from Chinese students. The university enrolled 300 students in 2013, with 151 students from the Chinese mainland and 149 from overseas countries. Chinese students were from 10 provinces or municipalities. The enrollment plan for 2014 has expanded to all Chinese mainland students.

"Shanghai strives to create an international education city that full of diverse cultural elements and backgrounds. This will help expand Chinese students' vision and improve their ability to communicate with the world," said Yang Weiren, an official at the international exchange and cooperation department of the Shanghai municipal education commission.

Yang said the city is looking to more international cooperation and to establish high-level international schools, ranging from high schools to vocational schools and universities. It also is encouraging universities to have more high-quality education programs with overseas institutes.